Preliminary Damage Assessments to Begin Wednesday in Four Central Indiana CountiesTeams will be in Howard, Madison, Tipton and Wabash counties

INDIANAPOLIS – Local, state and federal officials will begin conducting joint preliminary damage assessments in four central Indiana counties starting Wednesday morning to evaluate damage caused by severe weather and flooding that began April 17.

Teams will include representatives from those counties, Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Based on citizen reports and damage gathered by local and state emergency management professionals, these teams will focus on Howard, Madison, Tipton and Wabash counties.

These damage assessments are a key part of the multi-step process to determine whether it is appropriate to pursue federal assistance. See below for additional information about the federal disaster declaration process.

The federal disaster declaration process for individual assistance

An emergency or disaster incident occurs.

Local emergency and public safety personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations and other private groups provide emergency life-saving and -sustaining activities, meet immediate human needs, and restore essential services vital to public health and safety.

A local disaster or emergency is declared.

Preliminary damage and impact information is reported to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) by citizens and local emergency management entities.

IDHS determines whether to request joint preliminary damage assessments should be conducted by federal, state and local officials.

INDIANA IS CURRENTLY AT THIS STEP: Personnel from FEMA and the U.S. SBA are deployed and join state and local representatives to conduct joint damage assessments.

IDHS provides the findings of the joint damage assessments to the Governor's Office.

If the Governor determines the extent of damage indicates adequate recovery is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments, the Governor submits a written request to the President asking that federal assistance be provided under a major disaster or emergency declaration.

FEMA reviews the request and findings of the joint damage assessments and advises the President whether a disaster or emergency declaration should be granted.

Federal assistance is granted or denied.

If FEMA Individual Assistance is granted, Small Business Administration loans will also be available. If FEMA Individual Assistance is denied, a supplementary request may be filed for SBA assistance.

IDHS is still encouraging anyone who has not yet reported damage to please do so.

How to report damage
Hoosiers who sustained damage caused by severe weather and flooding that began April 17 can report online at www.in.gov/dhs. In the middle of the page under “Featured Topics,” click on “Report Damage from Severe Storms and Flooding - Starting April 17 and continuing.”

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS
Individuals without Internet access are encouraged to contact a friend, family member or neighbor for assistance. Web access is also available at many libraries, religious institutions, community centers or other public facilities. If none of those options are available, individuals may also contact their county emergency management agency to report damage.
THIS REPORT IS NOT AN APPLICATION FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This is NOT an application for a grant with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Information will be used to help local emergency management agencies and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security preliminarily assess damage to determine if federal assistance can be pursued.

All Hoosiers are advised to stay tuned to local radio and television weather broadcasts or listen to an all hazards alert radio for updated warnings and safety information related to potential weather threats.

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Media Contact
IDHS Public Information Officer on duty at 317.234.6713 or pio@dhs.in.gov

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